FLORIDA GATORS RECRUITING
MAILBAG: JUNE 26TH EDITION
http://www.gatorcountry.com/feature/florida-gators-recruiting-mailbag-june-26th-edition/
The Florida Gators recruiting/coaching staff is about to enter a dead period for the next few weeks for recruiting.
The break comes at the right time as the coaching staff has had a busy summer with hosting prospects and holding camps in Gainesville.
Gator Country’s members have a lot of questions about how the 2018 class will shake out and who are the top prospects that the Gators are after right now. We answer your questions in this week’s Florida Gators recruiting mailbag.
Well let’s dive right in to this week’s recruiting mailbag:
GatorNutz: If Justin Fields isn’t committed already by Monday, when do you see him announcing?
AS: Fields honestly has no decision timeline at all. The thing the Fields camp continues to say is that they will commit when they’re for sure on where they’re going. I think it will be this summer but that’s just a hunch on my part.
Nickelgators: Is Dax Holylfield just not interested or is it the Gators aren’t ?
AS: A little bit of both but both sides are continuing to stay in touch with each other.
GatorGolfer10: Without giving anything away how would you evaluate the job the staff has done in the recruitment of Justin Fields? Interested to hear your thoughts on the subject.
AS: Florida has done everything they can on recruiting Fields. They’ve been recruiting him hard and have made him the priority for the class. Not much else they can do differently.
MrB-Gator: Who is most likely (Gator leans) on the offensive line?
AS: Florida is still in good shape with William Barnes and Richard Gouraige. Florida is squarely in the mix for Nick Petit-Frere and Ed Montiulus.
McLeanti: Who are the two corners the staff trying to pull in?
AS: Pat Surtain and Tyson Campbell have been the top guys on the board for a while. Florida is still recruiting Josh Jobe, Randy Russell and Gilber Frierson hard too.
Texator: Did the Gators stop recruiting Malcom Lamar or something just went wrong in the process?
AS: Florida is still recruiting Lamar and the defensive end still plans to visit Gainesville. The top five may not be a true top five when all is said and done.
Defenstrator19: Who are our top defensive line targets and what kind of shape are we in with them?
AS: Dante Pitts, Malcolm Lamar, Azeez Ojulari, Micah Parsons, Rick Sandidge and Nesta Silvera are all up there. Florida in good shape with Pitts and Ojulari and are right there for Sandidge and Silvera.
UFsports24_7: With Warren Thompson committed to Oregon… who are our top receiver targets alongside Copeland?
AS: Jacob Copeland, Marquez Ezzar, Tyquan Thornton, and Justyn Ross are all guys that Florida is recruiting hard at the position.
Ufsports24_7: Are our main two tight end targets Kyle Pitts and Dante Lang??
AS: That’s a fair statement and if Florida was to land both of them, then the Gators would be very happy with the position.
BCNGator99: When the Nike Opening Teams are announced, could you break down the Gator targets that are on Fields team and whether or not you think they might be in his ear to come to UF.
AS: Absolutely. I plan to do that this week actually. I’ll break down each team that has Florida targets or commits on them.
Ufgatordad: Do you see the linebacker position being a down year this year, or are there some very strong candidates out there that we are in good shape for? Are any of our targets at that position at a Levi Jones level from last year?
AS: The linebacker position is down some this year but there is still a few good players out there at the position. Guys like David Reese, Channing Tindall and Richard Jibunor are all guys that Florida is recruiting hard. Florida is also staying in contact with Alabama commit Quay Walker.
Jmike131014: Do you believe we have a quarterback committed by July at the latest ?
AS: Florida would love to have one committed, I think by the start of the season they will have one committed.
Cbcoakley: Haven’t heard much about our top 3 running back targets in awhile, any developments outside of Iverson Clement?
AS: Dameon Pierce, Leddie Brown and Asa Martin are the guys they’re recruiting the hardest. Really nothing new on those guys except all three plan to visit Florida this summer.
Phildozer: Are there any kids in the NE Florida area that we are going after?
AS: Down year in that part of the state as far as guys that are Florida caliber.
Hogtown: What is your gut feeling at this stage with Matt Carrol?
AS: Good quarterback with some question marks off the field. If Florida doesn’t get Fields, then landing Carrol would be best case scenario. I think Florida can get him on campus in July.
Georglagator478: Are we still recruiting Kearis Jackson from Georgia, I know most people think he’s a Georgia lean but if we land Fields (since they are close) I think we get back in.
AS: Florida is recruiting him but not as hard as others. Jackson is a heavy Georgia lean at this point.
Gsacco: Are there any Florida targets you see in the ’17 class that would come in and be an impact type player as a Freshman?
AS: Florida needs a few of the defensive backs to be ready to go this year. Guys like Brad Stewart and Marco Wilson can do that if they come in and get up to speed on the defense.
Dhainer24: Could Amary Burney end up at linebacker? I have heard you say we may only take 1 LB and it seems like we keep recruiting safeties but aren’t recruiting LB as hard. Is that because the staff already thinks they have a LB in Burney?
AS: Could he? Sure if he gets super big in the weight room but I think he stays at safety because he’s very athletic and can play the position well. He’s also a very good receiver but I think defense is his calling card.
Ufgatordad: Read in an interview with William Barnes over on 247 that though he’s closest with us and UNC. He prides himself on being open to everyone and not making a list or narrowing down schools. Obviously the ideal response from our targets is that they love us and are 100% Gator, but even though Barnes is not saying that, do you still feel that we are in GREAT shape?
AS: Florida is still in solid shape with Barnes right now but North Carolina is the team talked about a lot with Florida. Florida and North Carolina are expecting a visit from him next month.
Scooterp: Is there a timeline for Asa Martin or Dameon Pierce? …and could you give a percentage of likelihood we land one of them.
AS: Martin is deciding in August and Pierce says he has no timeline right now. JaJuan Seider has made up a ton of ground on Pierce so I would say Florida has a better shot with him right now.
